Liberal Party of Australia

:This article concerns the modern Australian political party. For the Australian Liberal party active from 1909 to 1916, see Commonwealth Liberal Party.

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The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian liberal conservative political party. Since its foundation in 1945 it has been the dominant party of the centre-Right in Australia and competes with the centre-Left Australian Labor Party for political office, both at the Federal level and in the Australian states and territories.

Related Topics:
Australian - Liberal conservative - Political party - 1945 - Australian Labor Party

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The Liberal Party was founded on 31 August, 1945, after Robert Menzies called a conference in 1944 of Conservative parties and other groups opposed to the ruling Australian Labor Party. The Liberal Party absorbed several former Conservative parties, principally the United Australia Party. The Australian Women's National League, a powerful Conservative women's organisation, also merged with the new party. A Conservative youth group Menzies had set up, the Young Nationalists, was also merged into the new party. It became the Liberal Party's youth division, the Young Liberals.

Related Topics:
31 August - 1945 - Robert Menzies - 1944 - Australian Labor Party - United Australia Party - Australian Women's National League - Young Nationalists - Young Liberals

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The Liberal Party, is an advocate of economic liberalism, that being, the support of free markets. Socially, the Liberal Party is a Conservative party, although it has a minority social liberal wing. Since the 1980s the party has moved further to the Right, developing a strong New Right element in its platforms and policies.

Related Topics:
Free markets - Conservative - Liberal - 1980s - New Right

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In federal politics, the Liberal Party has held power since winning back a majority in 1996, and governs in its traditional coalition with the National Party. In state politics, however, the reverse applies: the Liberals and Nationals are in opposition in all Australian states and territories.

Related Topics:
1996 - National Party - Opposition

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